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Congenital enterovirus 71 infection: a case study with virology and immunohistochemistry
1Departments of Medical Research, China Medical College Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. t6218@hpd.cmch.org.tw
Insights
Enterovirus 71 (EV71) can infect fetuses during pregnancy, leading to severe complications. This case highlights the possibility of intrauterine EV71 transmission and its impact on fetal development.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Obstetrics
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is a known pathogen typically causing hand-foot-mouth disease and neurological complications in young children.
- Previous research has primarily focused on EV71 infections in pediatric populations.
Observation:
- A pregnant 28-year-old woman possibly contracted EV71 infection.
- Ultrasonography at 25 weeks gestation revealed fetal abnormalities including hepatosplenomegaly, liver calcification, ascites, and hydrocephalus.
- EV71 was detected in the fetus postmortem via multiple laboratory methods.
Findings:
- The study confirms the presence of EV71 in fetal tissues, specifically the midbrain and liver.
- Immunohistochemistry identified EV71 within the affected fetal organs.
- This case provides evidence for intrauterine EV71 infection.
Implications:
- Intrauterine EV71 infection is a potential risk during pregnancy.
- This finding expands the known clinical spectrum of EV71 infections.
- Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms and consequences of prenatal EV71 exposure.
Abstract:
Previously reported enterovirus 71 (EV71) infections associated with hand-foot-mouth disease, aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, polio-like myelitis, and paralysis all have involved young children. We report a 28-year-old woman who possibly contracted EV71 infection during pregnancy. Obstetric ultrasonograms at 25 weeks of gestation revealed an abnormal placenta, as well as hepatosplenomegaly, liver calcification, excessive ascites, and mild hydrocephalus of the fetus. Presence of EV71 was determined by immunodot blotting, virus culture, and partial sequencing of the amplified product of nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Postmortem immunohistochemistry further identified EV71 in the fetal midbrain and liver. The findings indicate that intrauterine EV71 infection is possible during pregnancy.